Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The journey after a cancer diagnosis can be approached holistically - incorporating mind, body and spirit. Click on the CancerActive article below for great advice if you or someone you know is considering Chemotherapy. The "Twenty Things You Need to Know About Chemotherapy" includes questions to ask your doctor about the treatment he or she is recommending, and what you can do to support your body during and after treatment. This is a really informative article because it is easy to read, and integrates medical information along with holistic, lifestyle, diet and exercise suggestions.

Do you know the difference between the older regimens of chemotherapy drugs and the newer biologics?What kind of questions should you ask your oncologist?How can you modify your diet to strengthen your body during your treatment? Did you know there are some herbs and supplements that can be very helpful?Which alternative therapies in addition to massage, yoga and accupuncture can help you?

The goal of CancerActive is to EMPOWER people to increase their personal odds of beating cancer; to be able to make more informed personal choices about their cancer treatment options. They provide a wide variety of information, not just about orthodox cancer treatments, but also on complementary canccert therapies and some, currently alternative cancer treatments as well. You can sign up for their email newsletter directly on the CancerActive website. (Note: The CANCERactive name and logo are registered trade marks) The CancerActive website contains a wealth of interesting and important information and it is worth taking the time to review many of the articles on the site.

A variety of products are available to reduce and relieve some of the common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. To learn about these products visit Lots To Live For, Inc. On this website you will find solutions to common side effects such as compromised skin, radiation dermatitis, mouth sores, itchy scalp, and more.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

As most cancer patients can attest to, many chemotherapy drugs can cause nausea. Sometimes oncology radiation can also cause nausea. Oncologists can offer a number of different classes of antiemetic prescription medications to help control this nausea. In this blog post we focus on some alternative treatments that can help to reduce CINV.

Several different alterations or enhancements in life style can help increase comfort. Often, the patient’s sense of smell becomes very sensitive. It can be helpful to use unscented soaps, shampoos, body lotions, and deodorants. Modifications to diet can include hydration (lots of non sugar based liquids), spacing out eating into many small meals during the day, and avoiding fried and greasy items. Fresh air and loose clothing may also be helpful.

Mindful meditation and other alternative practices can be helpful. These can include, but are not limited to relaxation and imagery therapy, music therapy, biofeedback, desensitization, breathing exercises or accupressure.

A few products can also be helpful in reducing the nausea from CINV. BioBands are clinically proven, effective wristbands that provide safe and effective relief of nausea. Designed and patented by an American Board Certified obstetrician and gynecologist. The wristband utilizes acupressure, a natural pressure therapy applied to a specific acupuncture point that controls nausea and vomiting. Acupressure is recognized as one of the alternative practices that can help reduce chemotherapy induced nausea. Drug-free BioBands are easy to use and have no side-effects simply place the adjustable band correctly on either wrist. A small bead which is embedded in the adjustable band presses down on the P6 (Neiguan) point, located three finger widths above the wrist crease between the tendons of the flexor surface of the forearm, approximately in the area of a watchband. Pressure on this point helps interrupt the signals that trigger nausea and thereby providing relief. To read more about Biobands, and to order Biobands click here.

Another natural solution to reduce CINV has been developed in the form of a simple lozenge or lollipop. Queasy Pops and Queasy Drops are an all natural way to ease a queasy stomach. Queasy Pops and Drops are great tasting lollipops and lozenges which have been formulated from the essential oils from delicious, all natural sources. Queasy Drops act via aromatherapy and taste receptors to inhibit negative taste sensations and calm the tummy. Another great attribute of Queasy Drops is that they can also alleviate dry mouth which another very common side effect of chemotherapy. The products also provide quick calories and are soothing and comforting. The Queasy drops come in many appealing flavors including: sour raspberry, green tea with lemon, ginger, banana and natural cola. The Queasy pops are available in a different flavor assortment including: peppermint, cinnamon, sour lemon, papaya, ginger, sour raspberry and green tea with lemon. To purchase Queasy Pops or Queasy Drops click here.

You can purchase an anti-nausea gift pack including one Bioband and one tub of Queasy Drops by clicking here.

Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting can be debilitating. It can take over your life and prevent you from even getting out of bed. Here are a few natural solutions to try in addition to the antiemetic medications prescribed by your oncologist.

To view other products that can be helpful in managing the side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation please visit www.LotsToLiveFor.com

Additional resources:

To learn more about breathing exercises please visit BreastCancerYoga by clicking here.

To read about a guided imagery application for cancer patients called Whip Cancer Now click here.

To read more about antiemetic medications in a very informative and highly recommended Consumer Reports publication called "Evaluting the Oral 5-HT3 Antiginists: Drugs Used to Treat Nausea and Vomiting" click here.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

What if? What if we had a vaccine that was safe and could eliminate 95% of all breast cancer? Would you take it? Would you hope that your daughters, sisters, lovers and wives would take it? For every man or woman who has battled this terrible disease, I’ll bet the answer is yes. I’ll bet it’s yes for all those who have not yet dealt with this beast. So when I heard that there was a vaccine that has been found to be 100% effective in preventing breast cancer in mice, yet is sitting on a shelf, I was horrified, angry and hell-bent on doing something about it, and I am not alone. Remember, that anything that works in humans worked first in mice.

In June, I invited Dr Kathleen Ruddy (shown at right) to be a guest on my weekly radio show. Dr Ruddy spoke about a breast cancer virus that might be involved with 40-75% of breast cancer. She discussed a preventive vaccine developed at the Cleveland Clinic by Professor Vincent Tuohy that is ready for safety testing in women and may also be effective against the viral form of breast cancer. Cindy Sullivan, a breast cancer survivor living in Colorado, was listening in and made a comment in the chat room that she was really, really mad (ok, in her words, pissed off) that this vaccine was ready for clinical trials and still unfunded. Cindy contacted us, and Kathleen suggested that we band together with two other equally determined women; we set up a conference call and before you know it, we joined forces to get the word out and to get this vaccine funded. To read more about the champions for the Pink Vaccine, click here. To listen to my interview with Dr Ruddy, please click here.

The virus in itself was not news to me or others; Kathleen and I spoke about this a year ago, and it received national attention via a video Dr. Ruddy made that was nominated best short film of the Breast Fest Breast Cancer Film Festival 2010. However, what amazes me is that in addition to the paucity of attention about the virus, there is equal disregard for the first preventive breast cancer vaccine that Professor Tuohy developed, for he has yet to get the funding for clinical trials to test its efficacy in women. So why is it that there is not funding for trials? If not for lack of awareness, what is it?

In order to get the Pink Vaccine to clinical trial we need to raise approximately $6 Million. In the estimated $30 Billion spent on breast cancer every year in the U.S., $6 Million seems like the proverbial drop in the bucket. Breast cancer is a big territorial business steeped in politics and greed. Komen has turned Dr Tuohy down for funding several times and Avon has refused to even consider it. (Please watch this powerful video, Pink Ribbons). When you think about it, it’s not in the best interest of corporate America or Pink-America to prevent this costly disease. Still, I have a hard time accepting that there is not funding for such an important vaccine….not everyone profits from breast cancer, so why isn’t this vaccine funded? Breast cancer costs insurance companies billions; sisters, daughters, wives, mothers and lovers and men die every day. Isn’t this enough motivation? Something must be done. The US Government as well as those whose purported mission it is to find a cure or end breast cancer must step in. Yes, we absolutely need to find a cure for breast cancer; millions are dying of this terrible disease. Treatment is not enough, and it ruins lives with illness, toxicity and fear. Treatment is not a cure; this vaccine is not a cure. (However, it may help prevent recurrence and slow the growth: researchers found that mice already infected with breast cancer saw a marked reduction in tumors after being given this vaccine.)

And that word cure. That in itself is a quagmire. A cure to me is not just something that is a remedy or something that will bring back health; it is not something that indicates a remission of signs or symptoms of a disease. To me, a cure means that the cancer is gone and will not return. We ask if our cancer is curable, but due to the nature of cancer, it often revisits.

Komen did just issue a sizable research grant to a team with a potentially more effective treatment for triple negative breast cancer, one that will reduce the spread of cancer and prolong survival, and to me, that is exciting news; but again, if we can prevent this disease, let’s do that too. If I knew of a vaccine that could completely cure, I would push for that also. But for now, what we do have is The Pink Vaccine, developed by Dr. Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic. It’s ready for clinical trials in humans. Remember polio? Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal disease. There is no cure, but there are safe and effective vaccines. If this vaccine works in humans the way it works in mice, we could eliminate breast cancer. The Pink Vaccine is not the only vaccine in the works; but it’s the only one to prevent breast cancer, and that is the best cure there is.

Elyn Jacobshttp://elynjacobs.wordpress.comTwitter@elynjacobs
Facebook @Elyn Jacobs and @Elyn Jacobs Consulting
Linkedin @Elyn Jacobs
The opinions expressed in this blog post are those of Elyn Jacobs, the author. If you would like more information about this vaccine or would like to connect with others interested in finding money to fund additional research and clinical trials please feel free to contact Elyn Jacobs directly.

Elyn Jacobs is a breast cancer survivor, professional cancer coach, radio talk show host, speaker, and the Executive Director for the Emerald Heart Cancer Foundation. Elyn empowers women to choose the path for treatment that best fits their own individual needs. She is passionate about helping others move forward into a life of health and wellbeing. Elyn lives in New York with her husband and two young boys. To learn more about Elyn’s coaching services, please visit: http://elynjacobs.wordpress.com. To tune into the Survive and Live Well radio show, please visit www.W4CS.com, Tuesdays at 1pm (EST).

To learn about products that can help alleviate side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation including radiation burns, mouth sores, compromised skin, and more, please visit www.LotsToLiveFor.com